Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

Game 27: Yankees at Royals

Happy Cinco de Mayo from steamy Kansas City, where the Yankees and Royals will face off tonight in the third game of a four-game series. The clubs have split the first two contests of the series, with CC Sabathia leading the Yankees to a 6-2 win on Friday night.

Hiroki Kuroda is on the mound for New York, looking to string his third straight good outing together, as he makes his first career appearance against Kansas City. He beat the Orioles in his last outing on April 30, holding the Birds to a run on four hits in seven innings at Yankee Stadium.

“I thought his slider was really good and I thought the location of his fastball was pretty good,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We’ve talked about one of his keys is his sinker, and against a left-handed-hitting club, it’s important to get them on that fastball away from them and get some ground balls.”

The Royals counter with Felipe Paulino, who is making his first start of 2012 after beginning the year on the disabled list with a forearm strain. The Yankees beat him here in Kansas City last Aug. 15, Paulino’s only career start against them.

Back in time

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